Written on: July 22, 2013 by ICM
On Thursday July 18, 2013 The New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Committee released S-2268 the Bio-based Heating Oil Act, sponsored by Senators Kip Bateman (R-Somerset) and Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic).
FMA testified in support of the bill and Burlington County Trustee Steve Foulk, Medford Heating did a superb job in outlining the real world experience and benefits of selling Bioheat as a New Jersey small business owner. Also testifying in support for the bill were Rebecca Richardson, National Biodiesel Board and Scott Heddrich, Renewable Energy Group. They did a fantastic job in both their testimony and answering specific questions posed by the committee.
The legislation mandates that beginning July 1, 2014 all heating oilsold in New Jersey have a minimum of 3% biodiesel working up to 5% in 2016. Should ASTM allow a higher blend of biodiesel the bill increasesthe mandate to that level. FMA anticipates this specific amendment to generate a great deal of focusin the coming weeks. The bill also statutorily authorizes a definition of biodiesel which includes a reference to the ASTM D6751 standard. As of now New Jersey and Alaska are the only two states which don’t reference the standard. Should there be a price or supply dislocation in biodiesel versus heating oil the bill authorizes the NJDEP Commissioner to authorize a waiver.
The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration
